Sign holder for automobile bodies



April 1930. A. HOEL LIS 1,752,591

SIGN HOLDER FOR AUTOMOBILE BODIES Filed April 14, 1928 43 yfILI/fl Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES ARTHUR H. ELLIS, OF ROCHESTER, "MINNESOTA SIGN HOLDER FOR AUTOMOBILE BODIES' Application filed April 14,

This invention relates to improvements in. sign or advertisement holders and supports therefor, adapted particularly for use in connection with automobiles of the closed body type which have the usual gutters along the longitudinal edges of the top.

One object of the invention is to provide a holder of this character in which the signs are firmly held but which will permit the same to be readily removed and interchanged for other signs.

Another object is to provide supports and attaching members for the sign holders for engagement with the gutters of the automobile tops to securely fasten the holders thereto.

With the foregoing in view the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a closed automobile body, showing the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in section of a portion of the automobile top and gutter and the sign holder showing the construction and arrangement of the attaching member.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one end of the sign holder.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the device removed from the automobile and showing the manner in which the signs are engaged with and removed from the holder.

The sign holder H is preferably rectangular or oblong in shape and of any suitable width and length and embodies a back plate 5 preferably formed of sheet metal. The lower edge and ends of the back plate are bent outwardly at right angles to the plate and then inwardly to provide channels 6 with which a sign carrying member 7 is slidably engaged. This member 7 consists of a sheet metal plate 8 having its lower and vertical edges bent outwardly at right angles to form narrow sign retaining flanges 9. The upper edge of the plate 8 is bent outwardly at right angles thereto and then inwardly to provide a channel 10 which corresponds to the chan- 1928. Serial N0.I269-,995.

nelsG of the backplate and withthe Same forms a frame around the outer edges of the sign 8, which as shown, is disposed against the plate 8 with its vertical and lower edges engaging the flanges 9 and itsupper edge engaging the channellO.

The outer side walls of the channels 6. and

1 The supporting'and attachingmeans for "the sign holder embodies a strip 11 of inetal correspondingin length to the lengthjof the holder. The strip 11 is bent longitudinally substantially.midwaybetween its edges to form a right angular seatjl2on whichIthe lower edge of theholder rests. The portion ofthe strip which projects upwardly from the seat forms an attaching flange 13 which engages and is riveted, welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the rear side of the back plate 5 of the holder.

The portion of the strip which extends downwardly from the seat forms a supporting flange let which is adapted to engage and rest on the bottom of the gutter G of the automobile top. the inner member of a clamping means by which the device is clamped to the outer side of the gutter. The outer members of the clamping means consist of two or more clips 15 in the form of short metal plates, the lower ends of which are curved to conform to the shape of and to fit around the outer side of the gutter. The upper ends of the clips have formed therein bolt holes 16 which aline with similar holes in the flange 14. Clamping bolts 17 are engaged with said alined bolt holes and with the outer ends of the bolts are engaged clamping nuts 18 which when tightened, draw the curved lower ends of the clips and the flange let into tight clamping engagement with the outer portion of the" gutter thereby rigidly securing the device in place.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described com- The flange 14 also forms prising a sign having a horizontally elongated supporting flange substantially coextensive in length therewith and projecting downwardly for reception throughout its length in a gutter along a longitudinal edge of a vehicle top, the lower edge of said flange being adapted to engage and rest on the bottom of the gutter, and clamping means connected with and disposed at the outer side of said flange for co-action therewith in clamping said flange to the outer side wall of the gutter, said clamping means projecting downwardly below said flange and being curved to hook under the gutter, holding the entire device against upward shifting.

2. A device of the character described comprising a sign having a horizontally elongated supporting flange substantially coextensive in length therewith and projecting downwardly for reception throughout its length in a gutter along a longitudinal edge of a vehicle top, a plurality of short clamping plates disposed at the outer side of said flange and having outwardly bowed lower ends extending below said flange to engage the outer side wall of the gutter and hook under the latter, the upper portions of said plates and said flange being provided with alined boltholes, and bolts passing through said bolt holes for clamping said outer wall of the gutter between said flange and said plates.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ARTHUR H. ELLIS. 

